Iga Swiatek hits 100 weeks as No. 1 - how much longer will run continue as Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff challenge?

ByJames Walker-Roberts

Updated 22/04/2024 at 08:37 GMT

Iga Swiatek has reached 100 weeks as world No. 1, putting her ninth in the all-time list. But when could Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff challenge for top spot? Swiatek saw her winning streak in Stuttgart ended at the weekend as she lost to world No. 4 Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals. The top WTA stars will be back in action at the Madrid Open this week.

Iga Swiatek has reached a milestone moment: 100 weeks as world No. 1.

Swiatek took over at the top of the rankings in April 2022 following Ashleigh Barty’s shock retirement. She has remained No. 1 for almost the entire time since; the exception being an eight-week spell when she was displaced by Aryna Sabalenka last autumn.

Swiatek recently moved up into ninth on the all-time list for weeks spent as No. 1 ahead of Lindsay Davenport (99).

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Next in her sights are Justine Henin (117 weeks) and Barty (121 weeks).

Steffi Graf leads the way on 377 weeks ahead of Martina Navratilova (332 weeks) and Serena Williams (319 weeks).

Swiatek saw her Stuttgart winning streak come to an end at the weekend as she was beaten in the semi-finals by world No. 4 Elena Rybakina. That narrowed her lead at the top of the rankings slightly, but she is still 2,712 points ahead of world No. 2 Sabalenka, who lost in the quarter-finals in Stuttgart.

Speaking ahead of the tournament, Swiatek said it was “pretty cool” to be in the top 10 for most weeks as world No. 1.

"I wouldn't expect that ever a couple of years back,” she added.

"I'm proud of my progress and everything in terms of how I've handled all the different challenges during my career. Belonging to the top 10 of players in terms of weeks at No. 1 is pretty cool.”

Swiatek’s first week as world No. 1 started on April 4, 2022.

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She spent 75 consecutive weeks at the top of the rankings before Sabalenka took over following the 2023 US Open.

Her first run as No. 1 included her 37-match winning streak that spanned from Doha to Wimbledon and was the longest winning streak on the WTA Tour this century.

Swiatek regained the No. 1 ranking after winning the WTA Finals and reaches 100 weeks with a 123-20 record as world No. 1.

Since becoming No. 1, Swiatek is the player with the most Grand Slam titles (3), WTA titles (13), finals (16), top-10 wins (27), and sets won 6-0 (39).

Who could challenge for world No. 1?

Swiatek is 2,712 points clear at the top of the rankings from world No. 2 Sabalenka and has 865 points to defend across Madrid and Rome. She has 2,000 points to defend at the French Open after winning the title last year.

Sabalenka can’t make up any ground in Madrid as she is defending champion, but in Rome, where she lost in the second round last year, and the French Open, where she was beaten in the semis a year ago, she could gain points.

Coco Gauff could also be in the world No. 1 conversation at the French Open.

The world No. 3 is 3,302 points behind Swiatek but has just 130 points to defend across Madrid and Rome, and then just 430 in Paris.

Rybakina won in Stuttgart to claim her third title of the season, but she is still 4,267 points behind Swiatek.

Elena Rybakina won the Stuttgart Open

Image credit: Getty Images

Swiatek said in Stuttgart that she feels like she still has plenty ahead of her and "so much work to do".

“We’ll see what the next years are going to bring," said the 22-year-old.

“There have been players that have been dominating throughout their whole careers, you know, and I’m still at the beginning. There is still so much work to do.”

When is Swiatek playing next?

Swiatek is entered into the Madrid Open, where the women's main draw begins on April 23.

Sabalenka, Gauff and Rybakina are all also set to play the WTA 1000 tournament.

Last year's final saw Sabalenka beat Swiatek to win the title and as the top two seeds again a repeat could be on the cards.

Swiatek will face either Wang Xiyu or Ana Bogdan in her opening match.

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